Joys of Motherhoof

1044 Words5 Pages
The Joys of Motherhood "The Joys of Motherhood" by Buchi Emecheta provides the reader with a detailed insight into the life of an Ibo family in the mid-20th century through the story of the character, Nnu Ego. The clash between the traditional Ibo culture and that of the modernized culture in Lagos is the strongest theme throughout the novel and provides the setting for all of the action in the story. By far the most interesting aspect of the book however, is the impact that this clash has on the traditional roles and responsibilities of Ibo manhood and womanhood. The Joys of Motherhood also contains critical analysis on colonialism, tradition, capitalism, and women’s roles as they come to affect one woman, Nnu Ego, and her family. As the story progresses, the traditional Ibo roles for both male and female are challenged again and again. In the novel many of the things that were typical measures of manhood and womanhood "manly" work, fertility, etc. were in direct conflict with the circumstances surrounding a modern life in Lagos. For example, in Lagos, providing for one's family is one of the most critical measures of manhood, regardless of the job. Obviously some jobs are more respected than others, but according to Naife, Nnu Ego’s husband, a washer is no less manly work than anything else because it pays the bills just the same. Naife's job however, horrifies Nnu Ego because it is most definitely traditional woman's work and leads her to question Naife's manhood. As stated in the novel, “Men here are too busy being white men’s servants to be men. We women mind the home. Not our husbands. Their manhood has been taken away from them. The shame is that they don’t know it.” (51) This shows the blurring of gender roles that many Ibo families face in Lagos. Colonialism and the modern world leave their mark on the novel’s male characters and corrupt the traditional
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